Handbag lock mounting



Sept, 27, 1938. H. HoRwlTz ETAL HANDBAG LOCK MOUNTING Filed June ll, 1937 1N ENTORS Patented sept.27,193s j i l Z,i31,435

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE HANDBAG LOCK MOUNTING Hyman Horwitz and Sanford B. Megdall,1

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 11, 1937, Serial No. 147,594

6 Claims. (Cl. 292-228) This invention relates to handbags and has Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of particular reference to devices such as frame the latch and mounting thereof. structures and latch therefor. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively sectional views One object of the invention is to provide a taken on the lines 3 3 and 5 4 of Fig. 2, but handbag frame structure comprising a spring showing the devicev in normal rhorizontal position.. 5 latch having an interchangeable latch concealing Fig. 5 is a perspective isometric fragmentary ornament, finger piece, cam member or lock part View of a channel frame element showing a fabric which is reliably secured in place by the action member tted around the broken away angle of a deformable or resilient member, all in an plate or base member.

CII

. l0 improved and simplified relation of the parts, Fig. 6A is a diagrammatic fragmentary view 10 and with the interchangeable element having one showing in dot-dash lines a means for clamping or more of the characteristics mentioned. a channel frame member to secure the bag body An important object of the invention is the thereto. provision of a handbag frame structure having Fig. '7 is a perspective isometric view showing a spring latch which would ordinarily interfere a device embodying the invention with the inter- 15 with or obstruct the attachment to or fabricachangeable part of the latch ready to be attached tion on a frame member of a fabric covering in place. member, the latch having the ordinarily inter- Fig. 8 is'a sectional View of the device similar fering part separately attachable as by a resilient to that of Fig. 1, ,and showing a modication of snap action with a relatively noninterfering part the invention. f 20 of the lock, in an improved manner. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary diagrammatic perspec- Another object of the invention is the protive view of the spring element. vision of a device of the character described Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of thedevice wherein the normal use of the latch tends to cause shown in Fig. 8. the interengaged parts thereof, including the in- The advantages'of the invention as here out- 25 terchangeable part, to move toward interengaging `lined are best realized when all of its features position. and instrumentalities are combined in one and Another object of the invention is the provision the same structure, but, useful devices may be of a device of the nature set forth wherein the produced embodying less than the whole. 30 interchangeable part and the mounting or base It Will be obvious to those skilled in the art 30 part of the latch on one frame member are both to which the invention appertains, that the same adapted for latchng engagement with the commay be incorporated in several different conpanion frame member for increased reliability structions. The accompanying drawing, thereand thinness and compactness of the latch. fore, is submitted merely as showing the pre- 75 A further object of the invention is the proferred exempliflcation of the invention. 35 vision of a device of the class alluded to having Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes few and simple parts, and which is durable and a device embodying the invention. The same may reliable in construction, highly advantageous for be in the nature of an article such as a handbag use in the manufacture of handbags, and neat, having a bag body II and a frame comprising 'l0 compact, and convenient in normal use. U-shaped frame members II, I2 hinged together 40 Y Other objects and advantages of the invention as at I3 for movement toward and away from will become apparent as the specification proeach other Ato close and open the bag body. By ceeds. making the frame members of channel form, the

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invenbag body may be tightly received in the channel tion consists in the novel combinations and arformations or the latter may be clamped thereon 45 rangements of parts hereinafter described in their in the usual manner. In certain instances the preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subchannel members are covered with fabric memjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed bers I4 as of textile or the like to conceal the drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the metal.

same reference characters throughout the sev- For releasably latchng the handbag closed, a 50 eral views. latchng device may be provided which is gen- Y In the drawing: erally of the spring type and may be mounted on Figure 1 is a somewhat enlarged vertical secthe frame member I2 for releasable engagement tional view showing a device embodying the inwith the frame member II or with a projection vention. I 5 thereon. The fabric member I4 could be easily 55 provided with a small hole for the projection I5 to extend therethrough. But considerable difficulty occurred in tting the fabric of a member I4 around the shank or base part of the latch which generally overlies the fabric to a considerable degree. If a marginally closed hole such as I6 were cut in the fabric member I4 to snugly enclose a base part I1 for the latch, it would be impossible to pass the much larger latch through such hole. If the hole I6 were cut large enough to pass the latch, an unfinished hole would result showing the metal of the frame member. Hence it has been customary to provide slits forining tongues in the fabric, which tongues were worked in under the latch and glued to the frame member. This obviously necessitated a considerable amount of skilled labor to obtain a neat nish. These diiculties, which are described as representative of problems in the manufacture of handbags Where a latch may interfere with or obstruct the manipulation of a fabric associated with the metal frame member, are avoided by the present invention.

Since a latch as used in ladies handbags is an important feature of distinctiveness and ornamentation, the invention permits the handbag to be constructed complete with the attachment of the decorative latch part according to the choice of the purchaser. Hence amanufacturers stock can be readily changed to suit, and in fact, the interchangeable latch part may be secured by the retailer to suit the purchaser.

While such considerable variety in handbag style is permitted, the main part of the handbag including the bag body and frame is not changed at all and is used directly as taken from the manufacturers stock.

Inl the handbag industry, the frames and latches are made by one concern, and the fabrication of the handbag bodies therewith is done by the handbag manufacturer. The latter demands a type of frame which shall not require any working of metal.

'Ihe invention is valuable with highly polished frames as well as with fabric covered frames.

Since the frame with the latch initially secured thereto is relatively expensive, a manufacturer will carry as little stock as possible, because of the style factor in the latch. With the present invention, the manufacturer may carry an ample stock of frames, and purchase the much more expensive latches as the need therefor arises with varying styles.

. element I9 which may be of rectangular cross section. A base part or anchorage 20 may be in the nature of an angular plate having an arm I1 extending snugly through the marginally closed hole I6 of the fabric and relatively loosely through the channel opening I8. At its lower end, the arm I1 may have an eye 2I nonrotatably tting around the spring element I9. The latter serves to secure the arm I1 to the frame member and forms a spring pintle therefor, one end 22 being bentrand abutting a side wall of the channel so that the spring element I9 tends to swing the plate 2i) counterclockwise. The other arm 23 of the plate 23 is outside of the channel member and projects laterally thereof and is adapted to overlie the companion frame member II in the closed position of the handbag.

Mounted on the plate 2D is an interchangeable member 24 which may comprise a plate 25 having secured to the underside thereof a plate 26 'to form a socket therewith. One end of the plate 25 may be thickened as at 21 to form a cam adapted to override the frame member I I or its projection I5 as the case may be. The plate 26 may have one or more openings 28 and the arm 23 may have one or more deformable or resilient tongues 29 adapted to lock into the recesses 28 to prevent accidental removal of the device 24 from the arm 23 which is snugly slidably received in the socket. The plate 26 may also have an opening 30 and the arm 23 may have a therewith alined opening 3I, both openings affording ample depth to receive the projection I5, and Ypermitting the device 24 to be thin and compact. Since the device 24 is secured in operative position by a movement toward the right, the engagement of the cam part 21 with the projection I5 tends to move the device 24 onto its Amounting to avoid accidental release. Since the portion 21 projects laterally beyond the frame member II, it may be used as a finger piece to vswing the device 24 upward against the tension of the spring I9 to thus release the latch.

It will now be seen that the fabric element snugly engages around the plate 2i), and that the latch part 24, which is substantially larger than the arm 23, overlies and conceals the plate 20 and the marginal parts of the fabric I4 at the opening I5. The fabric may be applied first to the frame member, or it may be applied after the plate 2G is mounted in place. In any event, the handbag I!) is made up complete, and an interchangeable ornamental latch part, chosen by the purchaser, is secured in place by a simple slide movement.

The invention possesses a'further advantage in respect to the clamping of the frame members on the bag bodyY 3I. Where, as heretofore, the latch was initially secured to the frame, the handbag manufacturer used clamping jaws one of which had a large cut out to clear the latch. The result was that the adjacent portion of the frame was left unclamped, or required a separate clamping operation. With the present invention, I may use a vuniform clamping jaw 32, and a companion clamping kjaw 33 having a cut out 34 which is only relatively small, being only sufficiently large to clear the relatively narrow arm 23. Thus the channel member I2 may be clamped with a single operation, substantially throughout. And the jaw 33 lmay be usedvwith different frames because the element 23 is of uniform size; and the useof out outs of different sizes can be avoided.

In Figs. 8 to'lO is shown a modification of the invention whereby a latching part such as 24 may be secured directly to a resilient means. Other advantages will be later pointed out.

The device 35 comprises a wire spring member 36 having a U-shaped bend 31, offset from the wire as at 38, and the bight of the bend being oifsetas at 39 Ato form a'tongue or engagement part. One or both bent ends 40 of the spring may act like that at 22 to similarly torsionally actuate the spring. The offset parts 38 may be curved toward each other to clampingly engage the end edges of the opening I8 of the channel back through which the part 31 projects upward and laterally in the general manner of the plate 2l). A pair of plates 4I, 42 form a socket to receive the part 31, with the portion 39 engaging Cil in an opening 43 of the plate 42. The latter may also have an opening 44 for releasably engaging a projection l5, or the plate 4I may have a cam part 45 shouldered at 4B to directly engage the channel Il, so that the projection l5 may be dispensed with. The latching device may be used with different types of frames.

To allow for possible lack of sufficient resilience in the portion 39 in engaging in the recess 43, the plate 42 may be secured to the plate 4I only at one end as by riveting or spot welding at 4l beyond the opening 43, whereby the resilience of the plate 42 may permit it to move to afford the requisite space for the portion 39 in its passage between the plates 4| and 42.

It will now be seen that we have provided a device which fulfills the objects of the invention and is well adapted for practical use. It will be noted that the lock may include the means 24, or 24 and I5, or 24 and the spring I9 or the element 20.

We claim:

1. A device including a latch portion having an interchangeable ornament comprising a thin flat casing element open at one end, a movable mounting member having an anchor element of thin strip material sli-dingly fitted into the casing through said open end, one of the anchor and casing elements having an opening and the companion element having a yieldable tongue adapted to engage in said opening to prevent removal of the casing element in normal use of the latch portion, said anchor element and one Wall of the casing element having registering holes whose common axis is at right angles to the plane o-f the casing element, said holes being adapted for the removable engagement therein of a catch projection which normally acts in opposite direction to said tongue and aiords a supplemental interconnection between the elements when engaged in said holes, the opposite wall of the casing element being closed and being externally ornamented.

2. A latch device of the type that is spring mounted on one han-dbag channel frame member and horizontally overlies the companion frame member for downward engagement with a top catch element of the latter, including an angular mounting member having a spring actuated upright arm and a generally horizontal arm forming an anchor element, an interchangeable ornament comprising a at casing open at one end, the top wall of the casing element being ornamental and having a projecting finger piece portion remote from the open end of the casing element, the anchor element being slidingly iitted in the casing element through said open end, said casing and anchor elements having means for interconnecting the same against removal of the casing element, said interconnecting means comprising a yielding portion to facilitate easy interconnection of the elements, the bottom wall of the casing element and said anchor element having registering holes having an axis at right angles to the plane of the casing element so as to be adapted to receive a top catch element, said casing element having at its inner side a cam face for the catch element leading to said holes.

3. A latch device of the type that is spring mounted on one frame memberfor downward snap engagement with a top catch element of a companion frame member, including a mounting member having an anchor portion, an interchangeable ornament member having a at casing open at one end lfor snugly receiving the anchor portion, the latter and the casing having interconnecting means comprising a portion that is deformable to cause the interconnection, the casing having a hole in its under side to receive a catch element, and the casing having at its under side a cam face for the catch element lea-ding to said hole.

4. A device including an interchangeable ornament member comprising a flat relatively thin casing open at one end and having a top ornamental wall, said top wall having a concealing portion extending beyond the open end of the casing and a nger piece portion extending beyond the opposite end of the casing, said bottom wall having a plurality of spaced holes, one of said holes providing means for the securement of the casing on a swingable mounting member that is insertable into the casing through said open end, and the other hole being adapted for the engagement therein of a catch, and the cas-- ing having on its under side a cam face leading substantially from the finger piece to the catch receiving opening.

5. A device including an interchangeable ornament member comprising a relatively at casing open at one end, said casing having an ornamental top wall having portions projecting beyond the ends of the casing to provide a fingerpiece portion and a concealing portion with the latter being at said open end of the casing, and a mounting member having arms at right angles to each other, the rst arm having an eye portion adapted to non-rotatably slidably receive a torsion spring of a handbag frame, the second arm being slidable into said casing through said open end thereof, means comprising a readily deformable portion for interconnecting the casing and the second arm to prevent removal of the casing, the concealing portion overlying the iirst arm, said mounting member and sai-d interchangeable ornament constituting a latch element, said latch element having an opening at the bottom of the casing to releasably engage with a catch, and said casing having on its underside a guide face for the catch leading to said bottom opening.

6. A device including a finger piece latch member for interchangeable connection to a ladies handbag, said iinger piece member being in the nature of a relatively flat casing simulating a plate and adapted to be spring mounted on one side of a handbag frame for downward movement and latchin'g engagement with a projection on the other side of the han-dbag frame, with an end portion of the casing extending beyond the projection to be engageable by a finger tip for upward unlatching movement, said casing beingV open at one end opposite said linger tip end and having a top ornamental wall having a concealing portion projecting beyond the open end of the casing to conceal the mounting of the latter, an-d the casing having means intermediate the ends thereof adapted for releasable snap engagement with the mounting when the latter is inserted in the casing, the lower wall of the casing having means intermediate the ends of the casing for releasably engaging said projection.

HYMAN HORWITZ. SANFORD B. MEGDALL. 

